Poor Bart Stupak.

Bart Stupak is a Democratic Congressman from Michigan who happens to be pro-life.  I mean, he’s got a 100% rating from the National Right to Life Committee.   He’s hard core.

Months ago, when the U.S. House of Representatives considered the original healthcare bill, Mr. Stupak successfully added language to the bill declaring that no federal funds could be used to pay for abortions except in cases of life endangerment, rape or incest.  He basically was reaffirming restrictions that had been in place for decades.  Later, when the U.S. Senate passed its healthcare bill, it included similar, but not identical, language pertaining to abortion.  

Without going into all the gory parliamentary details, at the end of this long process Congressman Stupak and a handful of other pro-life Democrats agreed to President Obama’s suggestion that he sign an Executive Order clarifying that no federal funds be used for abortions.   In exchange, they voted for the healthcare bill.

The right to life movement cried foul, thinking that there are still loopholes that would result in federal funds being used to pay for “abortion on demand.”   And yaddy, yaddy, yadda….

Now the healthcare bill is law and the Executive Order has been signed, but pro-life groups are incensed.  Indeed, they are apoplectic and are publicly blaming Congressman Stupak.  Not only that, but the anti-abortion foot soldiers are re-channeling the energy they have expended for years standing in front of abortion clinics and are deluging Congressman Stupak’s office with ugly messages.  He has received threatening phone calls and faxes, including one drawing of a noose on a platform with the wording “All Baby Killers come to unseemly ends Either by the hand of man or by the Hand of God.”  Last night, the Susan B Anthony List, a pro-life organization, withheld from Stupak of a “Defender of Life” award that he was going to receive at the D.C. event. 

Well, well, well.  

So, after all of these years of his railing against abortion, Mr. Stupak is now on the receiving end.  He is now getting a small taste of what it is like to be a provider of abortion services.

I have absolutely no sympathy for him or his family.